Hand matrix-assembler.



No 783,504. PATENTE!) FEB. 28, 1905. M. F. BRITT.4

HAND MATRIX ASSEMBLEE.

APPLICATION TILED FEB. 6, 1904.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MATHEVV E. BltITT, OE TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

HANU MATRIX-ASSEMBLEF-.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,504, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed February 6, 1901i. Serial No. 192,340.

,o rr// 'Hf/1,0111, it www concern:

Be it known that I, MATHEWE. BRITT, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of In* diana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Matrix-Assemblers; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains te make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specifieation. 4

My invention relates to improvements in a hand inatrixassembler such as is used in assembling linotype-matrices, and the device may be used in assembling linotype-matrices in the ordinary manner, similar to that of as sembling movable type in the common printcrs stick; but my invention is more particularly designed for more intricate compositionsuch as box-headings in tabular matter and where Words and figures are to be alined in one or more columns, several columns of names on one slug, setting lines of different sizes and lengths, and the like-and also to obviate the necessity of cutting slugs where several short lines are intended to be pieced together so as to make one line, and also for justifying the matrices in uniform widths, so that words and figures may be lined up in columns.

In the nomenclature of the trade to which the invention appertains it is designed to facilitate the composition of such matter as is commonly termed doublc-priced,7 priceand-one-half matter, dsc., in a type-setting machine.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device whereby matrices such as are used in type-setting machines may be rapidly, eonven iently, and accurately assembled by hand and to provide such a device whereby columns of figures, words, 85e., may be accurately assembled in perfect alinement. These objects l at tain by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which Figure l illustrates the device in perspective. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device.

3 is a perspective view of the device, illustrating the method of assembling matrices therein.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letter' A indicates the frame of the device, which consists of a perpendicular back af, extending the full length of the device, a

vbase-plate and an end block c. The back and base-plate may be formed of one common piece of metal bent to form a right angle or may be formed of two separate plates firmly attached to each other at their line of intersection in any substantial manner. The block c is designed to fit exactly into the angle formed by the back and base and is firmly attached tothe back and base by screws or in any suitable manner at the left end of the frame. The base-plate is provided with two or more threaded perforations fz, adapted to receive set-screws t" for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The letter B indicates a matrix-rack, which consists of a thin horizontal plate e, mounted upon a perpendicular standard e', which is mounted upon the base by means of screws or other suitable means, thereby leaving an open space or channel u between the plate c and the base The plate c rests upon the standard e near the rear edgeof said plate, leaving' thereby the major portion extending forward from the standard and a short portion projecting backward from the standard for the purpose of forming a shoulder s, which engages the slot in the clamp D, hereinafter described. The forward edge of the horizontal plate c is beveled downward and backward for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The letter D indicates an adjustable metallic clamp which consists of a single block of metal similar in form to the end block c, except that it is cut away upon the bottom side and provided there with a longitudinal recess for the purpose of receiving the plate of the rack, upon which it slides back and forth. The edges of the recess cut in the bottom of the clamp D are beveled and notched, respectively, for the purpose of exactly engaging the corresponding edges of the plate e, as shown in Eig. 2. The end block c and the clamps l) are cut away to conform with the outline of the IOO ordinary linotype-matrix a', except that the front upper lip or shoulder is cut ofi in order that the front upper lip or shoulder of the matrices may project in the clear for the purpose of inserting and extracting the same. The clamps D, of which one or more may be used, as desired, are perforated perpendicularl y for the purpose of receiving the threaded setscrews N, which bind upon the plate a, and thereby tix the clamps at any desired point along the rack B. The plate e of the rack B is provided with a graduated scale S upon its upper surface, as shown.

To assemble matrices in my matrix-assembler, I adjust the clamps D at desired positions upon the graduated rack and then place the desired matrices between the end block c and said clamps and justify the same by placing therewith the quadrats and spaces necessary toetill out the line to the desired length. The assembled matrices are then removed to the assembler of the linotype and the resulting slug is cast therefrom. The slug V thus cast is then placed in the open channel u between the plate e of the matrix-rack and the base of the frame and lirmly held therein by the set-screws Y, when the letters and iigures of the previously-cast slug may be easily seen and compared with the matrices placed in the assembler to form the next line.

The advantages claimed for my invention consist in the convenience, rapidity, and accuracy obtained in assembling matrices by means of the device and the means ot' handling the heated slugs used in comparing the same with the matrices of the following lines, whereby the inconvenience and danger of burns incident to prior methods of comparison are obviated.

Having described my invention and its use and purposes, what I claim as new and useful,

and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is- 1. In a hand matrix-assembler, the combination of a frame A, consisting of a back a,

base t and end block c, with a matrix-rack of the nature described, and the clamps D, adjustable upon the matrix-rack as described, all substantially as shown and set forth.

2. In a hand matrix-assembler, the combination of an angular frame A, consisting of the back e, the base I), and the end block c, with the matrix-rack B consisting of a hori- Zontal plate e mounted upon a standard d, the matrix-rack being mounted upon the base Z) of the frame A as described, the adjustable clamps D, adapted to lit and move upon the matrixrack B and provided with set-screws N, whereby said clamps are fixed at given points upon the matrix-rack, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a hand matrix-assembler, the combination with an angular frame A of the nature herein described with a stationary matrix-rack B, mounted upon the base tof A, said matrixrack being provided upon its upper surface with a graduated scale S and bearing edges adapted to engage the slots provided in the base of the clamps D as described, the adjustable clamps D provided with set-screws N, an open channel u, formed by the opposing walls of the base I, and plate e, and the set-screws i', all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I atx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

B/IATHEIV F. BRITT.

IVitnesses:

Jol-1N S. JORDAN, E. M. CALL. 

